Also 6 blincarde, blinkarde, blenkard. [f. BLINK v. + -ARD.]
1. A reproachful name for one who habitually blinks or winks; one who has imperfect sight.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Good Mann. (1570), B j. An one eyed blincarde.
1580. Baret, Alv., B 819. A Blinkarde, he that hath such eies that the liddes couer a great part of the apple.
1665. Char. Holland, in Harl. Misc. (1745), V. 575. Among the Blind, the one-ey’d Blinkard reigns.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. xvii. 427. Blinkard or Blinking, is to have the Eye-lids ever moving: so that there is no perfect sight.
1786. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Ode to R.A.’s, xi. Wks. 1812, I. 157. Yes Blinkards: and with Lustre shine.
b. transf. A star that shines dimly.
1627. Hakewill, Apol., III. vii. § 2. In some parts wee see many glorious … starres … in some none but blinkards and obscure ones.
2. fig. One who lacks intellectual perception.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, I. 610. Brainles blenkards that blow at the cole.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! (1861), 180. Calling himself an ass and a blinkard.
1882. Blackie, in Gd. Words, Oct., 640. A race of blinkards, who peruse the case And shell of life, but feel no soul behind.
† 3. One who ‘shuts his eyes’ to what is happening, who blinks facts. Obs.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. xiv. 82. So as God should play the blinkard or shut his Eyes.
4. attrib. or adj., usually fig.
a. 1529. Skelton, Balettes, 24. Thou blinkerd blowboll; thou wakest to late.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, Wks. (1834), 254. Look out with both their eyes, and have no blinkard minds.
1837. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), IV. 92. A blinkard precipitancy.
